UN CHIEF REPORTS HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN NORTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000825 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PRM STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID AID/W FOR ANE/SAA AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA FOR RTHAYER AND BDEEMER BANGKOK FOR DCHA/OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR WBERGER USMISSION GENEVA FOR KYLOH E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2018 TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV EAID CE SUBJECT: UN CHIEF REPORTS HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN NORTH WORSE THAN EXPECTED BUT STILL MANAGEABLE REF: COLOMBO 769 Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Summary: UN Resident Representative Neil Buhne provided Ambassador a readout of a quiet two-day trip he took to Kilinochchi August 27-29. Buhne told the Ambassador the humanitarian situation was worse than expected. He met some families that had been forced to move up to 20 times as a result of fighting. Largely sufficient supplies of food, medicine and shelter materials are getting to the north; the challenge is distributing this assistance to the widely dispersed 65-85,000 recent internally displaced people (IDPs),a shortage of fuel, and the breakdown of the local distribution channels due to fighting. In a meeting with LTTE Political Wing head Nadesan, Nadesan appeared relaxed, but refused to allow IDPs freedom of movement on the pretext they would be mistreated in government-controlled areas. The August 27 shelling of an IDP camp that left 5 civilians dead illustrates the growing risks for civilians as fighting intensifies. The Embassy will look for an opportunity publicly to urge both sides to exercise restraint and allow IDPs freedom of movement so they can stay away from active military hostilities and access UN and INGO humanitarian relief. End Summary. Quiet Trip Approved -------------- ¶2. (C) Buhne told the Ambassador that after the theatrics of a recent meeting of the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Affairs (reftel) in which the President's Senior Advisor Basil Rajapaksa categorically refused Buhne's request to visit the LTTE controlled area to assess the humanitarian situation, Buhne subsequently was contacted by Basil and told he could go. Basil explained that he could not be seen in front of his subordinates as reversing Government policy opposing high level visits to the Vanni. He told Buhne that he would allow Buhne's visit provided there was no publicity and the UN does not allow the LTTE to exploit the visit for propaganda purposes. Buhne agreed to these conditions. ¶3. (C) Buhne also agreed to convey a message to the LTTE that they must allow freedom of movement by IDPs in the Vanni. The head of UNHCR in Colombo Amin Awad wrote the head of the LTTE political wing Nadesan on August 25, to raise UNHCR's serious concerns about LTTE restrictions on freedom of movement to IDPs in the North. Awad expressed specific concern that residents in some villages were allegedly told by the LTTE to remain in their villages and construct bunkers to protect themselves rather than flee. Situation Worse Than Expected -------------- ¶4. (C) Buhne told the Ambassador that the humanitarian situation was worse than he had expected. He said he stopped his car on several occasions in LTTE-controlled areas to speak at random with IDPs. Some had moved as many as twenty times in the last six months. With each move they had to pay someone (usually a farmer with a tractor) to transport them and their few belongings. Most therefore had few financial resources left and because they were on the move had not been able to access UN food, shelter, and other emergency services. Most inhabitants were also predictably concerned about the security situation. The night Buhne arrived, the GSL dropped leaflets in central Kilinochchi advising people to leave LTTE-controlled territories. ¶5. (C) Buhne said he visited a school west of Kilinochchi, COLOMBO 00000825 002 OF 003 that was temporarily sheltering IDPs, many of which had not received food. Buhne explained that the UN distributes much of its food and other emergency supplies through the local Government Agents (GAs). However, distribution channels of the GAs in many cases were not functioning properly, because they themselves had been displaced by fighting. As a result, the UN was looking to distribute more food through those international NGOs still operating in the Vanni. But Still Manageable -------------- ¶6. (C) Local UN and ICRC staff briefed Buhne that while the humanitarian situation is deteriorating because of the fighting it is still manageable. They estimate that 15-18,000 families (65-85,000 people) have been displaced since June. The supply of food is adequate; the challenge is delivering it to the widely dispersed population. Surveys also show a continuous increase in under-nourished children, which highlights the need for more tripocha and therapeutic foods for malnourished children. Some medicines were in short supply, but not critical. The more serious health problem is that hospital generators do not have sufficient power or fuel, threatening the vaccine cold chain. As with the food situation, supplies of tarpaulins and tents are adequate, but distribution to the IDPs has been a challenge. Sporadic shortages of fuel are also a problem. The UN is hoping to move as many IDPs as possible northeast of Kilinochchi away from the fighting and persuade the LTTE to allow those IDPs who want to go south to Government- controlled areas. Buhne noted that UN conversations with IDPs show that most IDPs do not want to move south out of LTTE-controlled areas for a variety of reasons. Many are farmers who are reluctant to leave their land, many have relatives fighting with the LTTE whom they want to stay close to, and many fear the treatment they might receive in Government-controlled areas. LTTE Leadership "Relaxed" -------------- ¶7. (C) Buhne met with Nadesan and found him "amazingly relaxed" given that fighting was no more then 15 kms away from his office. Buhne commented that he could not tell whether Nadesan was putting up a brave front or whether he was truly confident. UN staff remarked that there are many fewer uniformed LTTE soldiers in Kilinochchi, suggesting the LTTE may be making contingency plans to evacuate Kilinochchi. Nadesan expressed thanks for the UN's humanitarian assistance and asked that it continue. Buhne reiterated the importance of the LTTE allowing IDPs freedom of movement both within the Vanni and to exit LTTE-controlled areas if they choose. Nadesan said they could not allow IDPs to leave the Vanni, because they would be mistreated by the Government. Buhne also emphasized the importance of keeping civilians away from conflict areas so they are not used as human shields, Nadesan agreed this would be important. IDPs Shelled -------------- ¶8. (C) Buhne expressed concern about the shelling on August 27 of an IDP camp in the town of Puthumuripu. He had visited this very camp on August 26. The shelling killed 3 children and 2 adults. A Sri Lankan military spokesman denied LTTE accusations that the SL military had been responsible for the shelling. Buhne remarked that the Government of Sri Lanka's denials were not credible. He said that the Government typically tries to shell near civilian villages in an effort to clear them of civilians before fighting begins. Buhne surmised that this particular shell had gotten too close. He said he would raise his concern with Basil Rajapakse later in the week. Comment -------------- COLOMBO 00000825 003 OF 003 ¶9. (C) The actions of both sides pose a mounting risk for the safety of civilians in the North. The LTTE cynically is exploiting fears of possible mistreatment by the GSL to flout international humanitarian law in not permitting freedom of movement to IDPs. The Government is pressing its military advantage, putting civilians at greater risk by using imprecise mortar and artillery in areas that IDPs are moving through or temporarily encamped in. The Embassy will look for an opportunity publicly to urge both sides to exercise restraint and allow IDPs freedom of movement so they can stay away from active military hostilities and access UN and INGO humanitarian relief. BLAKE